Over 80 speakers confirmed for European Travel Distribution Summit – face-to-face networking “key to survival” in 2009

Leaders from TUI, Hilton, BA, Priceline, lastminute.com, Accor and easyJet will join over 70 other speakers and 500+ delegates at EyeforTravel’s 2009 European Travel Distribution Summit, taking place on 19-20 May at the Business Design Centre in London.

Published: 29 Jan 2009

Leaders from TUI, Hilton, BA, Priceline, lastminute.com, Accor and easyJet will join over 70 other speakers and 500+ delegates at EyeforTravel’s 2009 European Travel Distribution Summit, taking place on 19-20 May at the Business Design Centre in London.

For full details about this year’s Summit, including detailed agendas and a comprehensive speaker list, click here

With so much uncertainty and change happening across the industry, putting an event together that is directly relevant to the concerns of travel professionals across all sectors has been more challenging than at any time since the months following 9/11. However, undaunted by this task, we have spent the last three months working hard to create an event to meet the needs of all travel companies in 2009.

The result? A thoroughly fresh take on the issues, with a real focus on the here and now. And a meeting place with the scale and scope to ensure valuable learning and networking opportunities for all attendees.

“With profit margins squeaking from the pressure, networking and partnerships will be the key not just to success, but to survival. The successful networkers of 2009 will be the deal makers of 2010,” said Tim Gunstone, MD, EyeforTravel

“Money doesn’t get made by people cocooned in offices, it comes from building trust based relationships face-to-face. That’s why this event gets better and better – people come away with better distribution and technology deals that lead to significant cost savings and increased sales.”

People will continue to travel. But as they feel the pinch of the downturn they will be turning to the internet in increasing numbers to get the most up to date information, make the most informed decisions and find the best deals.

The facts speak for themselves. In the year to September 2008, 33% of TUI UK’s mainstream business came from online, making it the tour operator’s biggest sales channel. Thomas Cook’s new e-commerce platform is helping increase conversion rates on thomascook.com by more than 300%. EyeforTravel Research indicates that 26% of all UK hotel rooms are now booked online; and in a recent Expedia survey, 30% of respondents were planning to switch from a traditional high street agent to an online source in 2009.

The message is clear. Travel companies who want to maintain and grow sales and profits in 2009 need to be taking online distribution very seriously. Attending the 2009 European Travel Distribution Summit is a good place to start.

To find out more about everything that is happening at this year’s Summit (there’s a lot going on!), and to take advantage of the super earlybird rate (starting at just £795 for a two day pass), click here

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